Reviews / Joyas Oaxaqueñas Blanco con Gusano
Review · · by The Editors
Joyas Oaxaqueñas Blanco con Gusano
Con-gusano gift-shop mezcal, now a museum piece
Score: 1.5/5 agaves
- Producer: Joyas Oaxaqueñas Mezcal
- Region: Tlacolula, Oaxaca
- Agave: Espadin
- ABV: 37%
- Price: $70 ($$)
Verdict
Con-gusano mezcal is a category NOM 070 itself has tried to disclaim. Joyas Oaxaqueñas keeps it on the shelf because someone still buys it. The liquid is flat, the proof is commercial, and the worm is the only selling point. Skip. If you want a real Tlacolula espadín, any Banhez, Vida, or Del Maguey bottle clears this by a full tier.
The worm was always a stunt, and this bottle proves it
Tasting notes
Nose: Cooked agave with thin smoke
Palate: 37-42% – the worm bottle is a relic of US mezcal marketing that serious producers abandoned; Joyas Oaxaqueñas hasn't gotten the message. Thin, salty-meaty, commercial
Finish: Off, warm – short
The bottom line
Skip. The worm is a bug, not a feature